Love Language? Consider Working in Translation

JobMonkey is happy to bring you a brand-new section to the website: a guide to help you find a translation job.

Translation jobs have been around since ancient times, and today, you could work in this field as an interpreter, writer, film translator, teacher, and more. There are endless possibilities in this field if you love language.

Translations isn’t just about knowing vocabulary words in two (or more) languages. Differences between languages also highlight differences between cultures, and so the intricacies of semantics and connotation are important. It is the translator’s job not just to repeat, but to ensure that the language is being translated with the same overall meaning and fluidity. This is why human translators are still used, even though computers have the capacity to convert words from one language to another. So, this job requires an attention to detail, empathy, cultural understanding, and the ability to communicate well. This is also a great career path for anyone consider to be a “people person,” as you’ll meet people from around the world while working in translation.

JobMonkey’s guide to translation jobs includes information about training, salary expectations, certification, and even starting your own translation business. One of the most rewarding things about this career is the ability to continuously advance. You can always work on learning new languages to add to your repertoire! In addition, you can consider becoming a freelance translator, which means you get to be your own boss.

Another perk to becoming a translator is the opportunity to travel. If you work as an interpreter, you’ll often have the opportunity to accompany your client or boss to overseas meetings, and even if you work translating texts or as a freelancer, traveling to immerse yourself in a language is an important part of being good at your job. Your work coudl take you to all corners of the world.

In the United States, translation jobs are readily available for people who speak Spanish, as companies are beginning to cater more and more to the growing Latin American immigrant population. All languages are important, though, since international politics require skilled interpreters to ensure there is no communication break down.

Interested in finding out more about becoming a translator? Contact some interpreter associations to learn more about this career option.